Langer slams comments

Posted Wednesday, 22 February, 2006 in International News

Justin Langer has labelled claims by South African wicketkeeper Mark Boucher that he has lost respect for the Australian team as 'stupid'.

After returning to South Africa, Boucher told Wisden Cricketer magazine that he felt when the teams got together for a beer after the Test series had been 'just for the sake of it because that's the right thing to do'.

"I'm not going to mention names but I have lost respect for one or two of their players. It's do-or-die on the field and hopefully we can keep the rest to a minimum," added Boucher, who has also called on South African crowds to stir the Australians.

But speaking on Inside Cricket on Monday night, Langer said he was disappointed with Boucher's comments and also does not fear any tactic the South African fans will dish up.

"No matter what South Africa throws at us, it's going to be child's play compared to what we got in England," Langer said. "I've never felt as intimidated, if that's the right word, as we did in England."

"Mark Boucher's comments? Very, very disappointing. To me that's a really important part of the series, and we had a great time with Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher was in there," Langer added of the post-match drinks.

"For him to come out and say (it meant nothing) was very surprising as a modern-day player and for me, very disappointing and not in the spirit of how we should play Test cricket."

"For Mark Boucher to come out and say that they thought they had to (have a beer) just because it's 'the right thing to do' - well, we talk about the spirit of the game, and his comment (goes against that). It was a stupid comment."